What is a Vascular Screening Test?
Vascular screening is a noninvasive test measuring blood flow in the arteries and veins. These tests screen for and monitor vascular problems like peripheral artery disease (PAD), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and carotid artery stenosis. Too often, vascular disease is asymptomatic until a life-threatening event like a blood clot or aneurysm occurs. As a result, screening for PAD and PVD can be life-saving.
Vascular tests do not use needles. Instead, a physician will check blood vessels using ultrasound imaging. The high-frequency sound waves echo off the blood cells and send data to a computer to display images or videos.
If you have decreased blood flow in your arms, legs, or neck, your physician may suggest a vascular screening.
Free Vascular Screening at Michigan Vascular Research Center
The Michigan Vascular Research Center, a nonprofit affiliate of the Michigan Vascular Center (MVC), is pleased to announce a free screening program to identify those at risk for unrecognized Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) complications. PAD is often a silent disease process that can place an individual at risk for loss of life or limb. This disease process can affect all of the arteries of the body. The disease can lead to stroke, renal failure, aneurysm rupture, leg pain, limb loss, and even death if not identified and treated effectively.
Many treatment options are available, and often the only treatment needed to protect those with PAD is risk factor modification through healthy lifestyle changes. If you have PAD, you can discuss this with your physician to determine if further therapy is necessary.
If you are 50 years of age or older with a history of any of the following risk factors: elevated cholesterol, hypertension, coronary artery disease, smoking, renal disease, diabetes, or a family history of PAD, please call (810) 720-ASAP (2727) to schedule your confidential free PAD screening and assess your risk of stroke, aneurysm, and peripheral arterial disease.
Assess your risk of stroke, aneurysm, and peripheral arterial disease ASAP
Screening for PAD Consists of
Three Diagnostic Tests
Three Diagnostic Tests
CAROTID ARTERY SCREENING (NECK ARTERIES):
Carotid artery screening is a non-invasive vascular ultrasound that uses sound waves to look at the amount of plaque buildup in the carotid arteries. These arteries carry blood and oxygen to the brain. Narrowed carotid arteries or a blockage in these arteries indicates carotid artery disease (CAD) and increases your risk of stroke.
Those who show no signs or symptoms of CAD can undergo screening to evaluate their risk. For more information on Carotid Disease and Stroke Screening, see Stroke Prevention.
LOWER EXTREMITY ARTERIAL SCREENING (LEG ARTERIES):
This test examines the amount of blood flow reaching your legs and feet. A blockage in these arteries decreases blood flow and indicates peripheral vascular disease (PVD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD). PVD and PAD can lead to leg pain when walking. If gone untreated, these venous diseases can result in limb amputation.
AORTA (ANEURYSM) SCREENING:
This is an ultrasound exam of the abdominal aorta, the large artery in your stomach, for signs of aneurysms and abnormalities. If the artery vessel is weak or bulging, there is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The larger the aneurysm, the higher your risk of rupture, which can cause fatal internal bleeding.
Patients will receive a copy of their test results. Those who potentially have a venous disease can have a copy sent to their physician for further evaluation and treatment.
